Lewis Hamilton details intense winter training and mental changes behind strong Ferrari start

Lewis Hamilton says a winter reset, tougher training regime and stronger mindset have helped him rediscover his best form ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season

Lewis Hamilton has detailed his mindset changes heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season and the tweaks he decided to enforce on Christmas Day.

After losing out on the 2021 drivers' championship, Hamilton was ready to come back fighting in 2022, but the regulation changes left the Briton fighting against the ground effect era cars, machinery which failed to yield results for him. He faced further struggles in 2025 as he worked to adjust to his new team, Ferrari.

The seven-time champion admitted ahead of 2026 that he lost himself a bit in recent years, but after a personal reset over the winter break, he has come back stronger this season.

"Training this winter has been the heaviest and the most intense that I've ever had, and that probably comes hand in hand with being older," Hamilton said, according to the Independent. "It takes longer to recover.

"But I've managed to pull these new tools together. I've got a great trainer that I've been working with in the past, but we worked together since Christmas Day.

"Then the time at the factory, obviously new engineer, and that's obviously been a real good boost as well. Great morale within the team.

"And as I said, I just decided on Christmas Day how I was going to start this season. I decided what I was going to do mentally and I'm going to continue to tweak that."

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Lars Baron / Getty Images

While speaking to Motorsport.com and other media in Suzuka, he added that he has worked on not letting outside noise impact him.

"I think it's just a change of attitude. It's just not letting all the BS that surrounds me come out of people's mouths. In the way of knowing who I am and what I'm able to do, I hope you saw that in the last two races, particularly the last race.

"I'll continue to try and show up and show up for this year. I've not lost what I've had. Regardless of some of you who write that, I'll continue to show up.
I'm training harder than ever. I was in Tokyo between this race and the last race. I've run like 100km.

"I know that none of the drivers I'm racing against have trained as hard as I have and given it what I have, especially at my age as well. I love that. That I still have that drive with myself.

"I was at the hotel, and several drivers walked in, and I finished my runs, and I know that it just can't be helped. The commitment is there, more than ever. I'll dedicate absolutely everything I have now to this challenge and this good vibe that I have."

The Ferrari driver secured his first podium finish with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix but finished sixth at the Japanese Grand Prix.